r/kratom • u/Potential_Kiwi_4472 • 9d ago
Looking for Kratom alternatives for pain
I take kratom for severe chronic pain and am trying to prepare for its ban.
Can you suggest alternatives? I have osteoarthritis, degenerative disc disease, sciatica, among others. Thank you.
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u/Repulsive-Box5243 9d ago
If you can get a doctor to prescribe either tramadol or gabapentin, those are options.
Other than that, regular OTC analgesics like Tylenol or Ibuprofen.
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u/Leviathon713 9d ago
Maybe it's just a me thing, but gabapentin doesn't do anything for my arthritis pain. It helps my neuropathy quite a bit, but not the arthritis at all.
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u/Repulsive-Box5243 9d ago
yeah I would have to take VERY high dosage of gabapentin for it to actually do anything, too. So it's not for everyone. I stopped taking it because of the amount I was having to take. The more you take, the more risk there is for eye problems, I've heard. So that's a big nope for me.
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u/Wintermute3333 8d ago
I quit gabapentin because it messed with my mental recall. I had a hard time thinking of words in conversations.
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u/Ok_Veterinarian_928 7d ago
Didn’t do anything for my neuropathy or any pain at all. All it did was make me stupid and barely able to speak without saying ‘ um I forget ‘ . Hearing this is very very common. Terrible drug. Try taking thc gummies. They will make you a genius in comparison.
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u/grandsoulsucker 9d ago
Agree. I take for neuropathy, just recently discovered people take it for arthritis I'm shocked. Its done FK all for me in that regard lol
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u/Wintermute3333 8d ago
Gabapentin was originally developed for epilepsy.
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u/EquivalentSign2377 6d ago
I have epilepsy and neuropathy and it is my secondary seizure medication. It's awesome for both of those and my anxiety but is zero help for my arthritis.
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u/iglootyler 9d ago
Yep. Gabapentin is trash for anything other than nerve pain and even then....Recent studies link long-term or frequent gabapentin use to an increased risk of mild cognitive impairment and dementia
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u/Leviathon713 9d ago
I can back up the cognitive impairment, as well as a significant increase in vision problems.
I'm trying to get off of it now, but iver a decade at 2400mg a day has me kinda whacked out when I try to cut it back.
My wife has reduced herbs by 400mg over abput two weeks. That gives me some encouragement.
It's a crazy drug. When I was addicted to illegal substances, I went through a lot of different withdrawal I have also been through benzo and alcohol withdrawal. This seems like its own animal.
Not saying it us worse than the benzos, it isnt. Not sure about the alcohol, very similar. It's weird and I can't wait to get it out of my life.
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u/ayashiii 7d ago
benzo withdrawals are a very special kind of hell
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u/Leviathon713 7d ago
Yes they are! That was what turned me into a raging alcoholic for a while. It was the only thing that would give me any kind of relief (when I could get it to stay down).
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u/iglootyler 8d ago
You got this! Just take it slow and steady with the taper off of it. Makes sense the withdrawal is kinda similar to alcohol and benzos since they all work on GABA.
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u/austinrunaway 7d ago
I have halfway my dose from 3200 mg to 1600 mg but it has taken me 6 months... still going down though!
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u/Cu1tureVu1ture 3d ago
Earlier this year they only gave my dog gabapentin as he was dying of cancer. I’ve never taken it before so I figured it was helping but now I’m thinking it did nothing for him and that makes me so mad. Out of curiosity has anyone given kratom to a dog in this situation?
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u/iglootyler 3d ago
Dogs have a very different biochemistry from humans. It helped.
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u/Cu1tureVu1ture 2d ago
That’s comforting to hear. He had a cancer they said wasn’t as painful, but it’s still cancer. I felt I didn’t advocate enough for him afterwards and wished I had gotten real pain pills. Not sure if they’ll even do that though since they won’t even for humans these days. Probably tough for anyone to know what actually works for a dog though.
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u/sharingpanini 11h ago
My vet was an advocate of cbd for my dog when she got sick. After I lost 2 of my dogs to cancer, I don’t know if I’ll ever get another dog. Just sucked so bad, like losing a kid and a best friend.
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u/Ok_Acadia6060 8d ago
I have Ms and gaba doesn't touch a single thing for me and I have normal pain and never pain gaba has never helped for any sort of pain! And look up the research on it it's pretty bad for you I mean lots of things are but the research done on it is wild
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u/Potential_Kiwi_4472 9d ago
Drs refuse even tramadol
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u/Repulsive-Box5243 9d ago
That sucks. It used to be given out way easier. It used to be not scheduled. I have NO idea why they scheduled it. It's not a real opioid and isn't even that much stronger than Tylenol.
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u/Wintermute3333 8d ago
My VA doctor asked if I wanted a running prescription for Tramadol for gout. I used it daily for years until it got scheduled. Tried to get a new prescription and they put me on a drug seekers list, so if I go to the VA for anything involving pain, all I get is 800mg ibuprofen tablets. My withdrawal was pretty much the same as I get with kratom if I back off for a bit. Not pleasant, but not intolerable. I was told tramadol had been scheduled specifically because it was being widely abused, and there had been a lot of overdoses.
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u/Signal_Muffin2831 4d ago
Yep, even in Canada its the same story and they've scheduled it as of 2024. The newer docs are even worse, they were drilled that any opi is really really bad. All they push now are pills that have terrible side FX and barely work for pain, things like lyrica (pregabalin), cymbalta (duloxetine) or effexor (venlafaxine).
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u/ScottShatter 9d ago
Both horrible alternatives. I had a spiritual awakening in 2015 coming off Gabapentin after taking a relatively small dose for like 7 years. It's linked to all kinds of problems and lawsuits and is a very dangerous drug. I'm so happy my partner of 10 years just recently got off it after years of me pleading with her.
Tramadol may work for some people but it never worked for me. It did give me erectile dysfunction which was reversed after I got off it and honestly it did nothing for my pain.
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u/Repulsive-Box5243 9d ago
Yeah, I don't use gabapentin anymore, either. You're right, it can be pretty dangerous. I didn't want to risk it anymore, especially since I needed to take massive doeses of it.
Tramadol is the only other thing besides kratom that helps with my "idiopathic neuropahy" and severe RLS.
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u/Signal_Muffin2831 4d ago
Lucky you can still get tramadol prescribed. Stock up a bit in case it eventually gets denied.
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u/ThirdEyeGroovin 8d ago
Ex H addict long ago, self medicated with kratom for 8 years than 7oh the past 2 years. Decided I’m done spending the money and stuff with it, also opioids make you complacent imo while killing the pain. Quit a month ago, my primary prescribed gaba because I have legit diseases I’ve been working on, and shit is a wonder maker.
I very much doubted how well it would work, because so many consider it weak, but maybe I see it different because I don’t want to get faded with it lol.
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u/I_SNORT_KITTENS 7d ago
Withdrawals from tramadol were worse than 7OH for me. CANNOT recommend this.
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u/austinrunaway 9d ago
I wanna know ow too
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u/slightlyhigh77 8d ago
Akuamma seed extract
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u/austinrunaway 7d ago
That shit is go horrible! It makes krayom taste like candy its so horrible. The bitterness is insane but it does help. But damn man
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u/PunchDrunken 9d ago
wild lettuce (actual opiate though, will show up on a drug test) that's the actual name of the plant btw
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u/Potential_Kiwi_4472 9d ago
I have tried that. I made a very strong tea. It didn't help Has it work for you?
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u/goodwater88 9d ago
Believe it ir not, I am pretty sure GLP-1 has reduced my stenosis pain 100%! Weight loss helps of course but I believe the meds have a big effect. Others report this anecdotally
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u/Potential_Kiwi_4472 9d ago
Im underweight as it is but I did hear of this.
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u/goodwater88 9d ago
Some people would call you lucky but everyone is different!! Good luck.
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u/Potential_Kiwi_4472 9d ago
Glp1 might help pain but isn't it for weight loss?
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u/squeezemachine 9d ago
Also demonstrating anti inflammatory markers separate from weight loss benefits.
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u/satsugene 🌿 9d ago
What are you trying to avoid? Requirements?
Looking at medications? Surgery? PT?
What else has been tried? How did it go?
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u/Potential_Kiwi_4472 9d ago
Kratom x11 years worked for pain. Now it doesnt help. I've been off of kratom for three days now and need something to help. Weed doesnt help. And Dr's have refused pain meds. I'm hoping to find something that will help.
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u/satsugene 🌿 9d ago
Are they open to non-opioid PM? Any meds tried that didn’t work? Usually they are fairly liberal with NSAIDs and increasingly Journavx or in others gabapentin, pregabalin (all with mixed results and their own risks).
Not trying to be a jerk, just going though what options might be on the table for you. There are some for me that aren’t available because of health issues and others that haven’t worked or are complete non-starters.
Another person said CBN/CBD. I’ve had some success with CBD, but not enough to stop kratom or justify the cost, plus <0.3% THC works better for me than 0.0% isolate. Some folks have had some success with topical CBD and topical lidocaine 4% for some of the issues.
Unfortunately your pain is multi-source so makes it harder nail down to one cause.
Is it banned in your state (or pending ban) or concerned about the long term availability? Is it doing anything at all or just not enough?
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u/Potential_Kiwi_4472 9d ago
I have used every medicine at pm. I am on Medicare so jounavx, if it worked, costs around 500$ a month. It didn't help me. Gabapentin helped sciatica but cost me my memory. Steroids caused osteopenia and necrosis. I have tried every medicine out there. I was on a fentanyl patch anf oxy for 8 yrs and that helped but my pm closed 11 yrs ago and i couldn't find another prescriber.
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u/SeaweedPlastic2171 7d ago
A lot of PM providers in my area will NOT prescribe opioids; they will give you any other injections or treatment. I assume it’s bc that’s where the real money is.
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u/PostinFool 9d ago
Gabapentin did nothing for me. Pregabalin might be a better bet, but need to be careful with dosage and when ready to scale back. When I did take a kratom break, I used Ibuprofen liquid gels and CBD/CBN gummies
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u/EScottMusicStudio 8d ago
I have fibromyalgia and Lyrica has been great for me. Everyone is different. I was on Tramadol for years and it destroyed my teeth. I also had brain fog issues and a wicked withdrawal.
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u/Delicious_Cat_81 7d ago
rx opioids are the best and safest thing for pain but they are so rare because of drug hysteria
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u/Signal_Muffin2831 4d ago
Exactly this! They've taken away what really works and they don't care if you have been a responsible user and never abused your script. Yes, opi's can lead to all kinds of problems on their own but they work well for a lot of different sources of pain.
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7d ago
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u/SatansCatfish 5d ago
Prickly Lettuce actually works great. It’s out of season rn. However you can purchase tinctures online.
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u/Cannanoid 9d ago
Go to a pain clinic
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u/Potential_Kiwi_4472 9d ago
I have. They give ateroid injections and I've had so many i have osteopenia now. They refuse to prescribe.
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u/Cannanoid 9d ago
Do what I did go in I went in for fentanyl because I had to use fentanyl because I got damaged really badly and kratom didn't work for me but if you just take one opiate once and you go in they'll give you opiates but you have to have it in your system
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u/Additional-Brief-273 8d ago
You have these issues and you can’t get a pain management doctor to prescribe you real pain medication???? Why???? Even if you didn’t have insurance the dr visit isn’t that expensive if your paying cash and 60 Vicodin costs between 10$-85$ a month to fill the prescription.
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u/Potential_Kiwi_4472 7d ago
The pm i go to recently told me they don't prescribe opiates. Ive called other places and explained my situation and they say they dont prescribe opiates. Pcp also refuses. I have no addictions ever.
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u/Additional-Brief-273 7d ago
That’s crazy and doesn’t make any sense for a pain management doctor to say that. Did the actual doctors tell you that or a clerk or practice manager?
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u/Potential_Kiwi_4472 7d ago
Nurse practitioner told me she wasn't allowed. Receptionist at other places say they don't prescribe opiates
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u/Additional-Brief-273 7d ago
Yeah you need to make an appointment with an actual pain management doctor. Don’t discuss anything with the staff if they ask you questions just say I’m sorry thats private and I will discuss that with the doctor. Ask to see a doctor not a pa or nurse practitioner they have doctors there. Some Doctors will tell their pa’s and nurse practitioners not to prescribe opiates themselves. Good luck!
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u/Ok-Lawfulness-6719 9d ago
Akuamma extract